The project: IMEG (formerly FHI Studio) implemented a demonstration project focused on improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety in the area surrounding the Waterbury Green, a major public transit hub with heavy multimodal activity.

The goal: To enhance safety and comfort for people walking, biking, and using transit by reducing vehicular speeds, improving pedestrian visibility, and shortening crossing distances at complex, high-volume intersections.

Planning approach: IMEG evaluated existing conditions and designed temporary curb bump-outs and related treatments to narrow crossing widths, enhance pedestrian visibility, encourage use of marked crosswalks, and reduce vehicle turning speeds through the project area.

Project outcome: The demonstration project achieved measurable safety improvements, reducing pedestrian crossing distances by an average of 46% and lowering vehicle speeds by more than 10% at the area’s busiest intersections. The project demonstrated the effectiveness of low-cost, implementable design strategies to improve active transportation safety in a transit-rich environment.